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Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction Award Details
Online nomination form
Microtel Inns & Suites Website
Congratulations to 2007 Microtel Disc Golfer of the Year Larry Bledsoe!
Though Larry was assisted by numerous other volunteers to host the 724 players who converged on western Kentucky on the March 31st-April 1st weekend, Larry's leadership, dedication to the Ams, and disc golf spirit all combined to make Bledsoe the winner for the inaugural award. Congratulations Larry on this distinguished honor! You certainly carry the spirit of disc golf with you wherever you go.
This Week's Disc Golfer of Distinction
Paul Jay
Paul Jay has been the backbone of disc golf in Central Ohio for the past several years. Paul is also the PDGA state coordinator for Ohio in addition to his duties as the Columbus Flyers Disc Golf Club president. Since the beginning of 2007, Paul has run 13 PDGA sanctioned tournaments including 2 National Tours and a 2 Super Tours, along with numerous local un-sanctioned tournaments for the Columbus Flyers Disc Golf Club. When Paul is not running tournaments for others pleasure, he is usually coordinating course maintenance for the local courses in Central Ohio. Paul has either designed, installed, or supervised the installation of several courses in the past few years around Central Ohio and many think it is time that Paul get rewarded for his efforts.
Paul was a long time, tournament playing golfer when a sudden injury now prevents Paul from throwing a disc at all. The love and passion Paul has for the game now spills over and allows others to play courses and tournaments that Paul is responsible for! If anyone has ever deserved an award for their efforts and love of the game, Paul Jay is your man!
For his ongoing contributions to the PDGA and the sport of disc golf, Paul Jay is a Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction!
Winner for the week of July 28th
Doug Opiela
Doug Opiela should be considered for the Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction award because of his tireless efforts to grow the game in Western New York. As you can tell by his low PDGA #, Doug has been involved in disc golf for a very long time. He is one of the founding members of Niagara Region Disc Golf, probably the most popular disc golf league in New York state, averaging about 64 players weekly for the random doubles league. He has been instrumental and pivotal in the design, installation and most importantly fundraising the 6 course\'s in western New York. He recently volunteered his design skills to lay out the new and very challenging course located in Como Park, Lancaster, NY. Doug also operates a mobile disc golf store,(from which he constantly donates merchandise to benefit local tournaments) from which he not only distributes plastic, but also gives out free advice and helpful hints to anyone who asks. Disc Golf is exploding in the Buffalo region, and Doug Opiela is certainly deserving of being named a Disc Golfer of Distinction due to his efforts and stewardship of the game!
Winner for the week of June 24th
Ernie Small
Ernie Small was the Tournament Director of the 2008 Bowling Green Amateur Championships, which is the world’s largest disc golf event. Undertaking an established tournament with over 700 golfers is no easy task for anyone, but Ernie stepped up and was very successful in his first time as TD of this event.
Ernie interacted with the players at every opportunity he had throughout the event. With Ernie’s relaxed personality it was easy for the players to talk to him. He even found time to entertain the players by having his band play during the Fly Mart/Players Party Saturday night. Ernie and his event staff created an atmosphere that will continue to bring players coming back year after year.
Winner for the week of May 26th
Larry Kruse
Larry Kruse has been instrumental in managing the HFDS (Houston Flying Disc Society) for the past 4-5 years. He volunteers every chance he gets to help others plan, run, and promote events including this year when he helped with the 2008 Houston Ice Bowl. Larry has spent nearly every weekend for the last year helping to raise over $1000 for the added cash at this year’s incredibly successful Texas States Championships. He is the first person many Houston Disc Golfers go to when they need help or advice on running tourneys and promoting the sport in general. He is just a great guy and deserves some recognition.
For his past and ongoing dedication to the promotion of the sport of disc golf, Larry Kruse is this week’s winner of the Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction award.
Winner for the week of May 12th
Mike Norris
Mike Norris is the definition of a true volunteer who does his work because he truly loves disc golf. As the current president of the Raleigh Area Disc League (RADL), Mike has maintained the club as a first class organization by running monthlies, doubles, making disc orders and pretty much doing all of the necessary work that no one else is willing to do.
Mike handles registration for all RADL / PDGA events and volunteers his time to do scoring for these local events as well. He is responsible for managing the North Carolina Points Series and maintaining the series website as a service to all players in the state. Last year, Mike went above and beyond the call of duty when he set up online registration for an event 4 ½ hours away in Charleston, South Carolina just so the tournament would run smoother. He often jokes that the best way for him to warm up for a tournament is open up an excel spread sheet because that is what he is usually busy doing.
Perhaps Mike is best known for his ongoing work at the United States Disc Golf Championships, where he takes a week off from work every year to volunteer his time to help with the event. As one of the innovators behind the famous "Dots" technology at USDGC, Mike has helped transform the way that people at home are able to follow the tournament action online.
For his many contributions to the promotion and growth of the sport of disc golf, Mike Norris is this week’s Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction.
Winner for the week of April 21st
Stan McDaniel
Thanks in a large part to tireless efforts of local Disc Golf Hall of Famer, Stan McDaniel, Charlotte, North Carolina has become a true Mecca for disc golf. In particular, his course designs at Hornet's Nest and Renaissance parks define the local scene along with his work in designing numerous other courses in the area. The blood, sweat, and tears shed at Renaissance alone, in initially designing and installing the course, could define a lifetime of disc golf service for most not to mention the countless hours since with upkeep and maintenence.
Stan has also been a major resource for cultivating young up and coming disc golfers as well, helping mold their game in the same skilled, almost artistic manner as he designs his courses. Calling Stan McDaniel a disc golfer of distinction only seems to start to recognize a man who has dedicated his life to the sport.
For his ongoing dedication, promotion and support of the sport of disc golf, Stan McDaniel is this weeks Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction.
Winner for the week of April 7th
John Minicuci
John Minicuci is one of the driving forces behind the success of disc golf in the Metro Detroit area. He has worked tirelessly to improve and further the sport. He is the first to volunteer when course work needs to be done or to sit down with park managers to discuss the disc golf courses in their parks. He also has been a vocal advocate of new disc golf courses in the Metro area, assisting on-site and off-site with valuable knowledge.
John is one half of Flying Saucer Disc Golf, a disc golf promotion group, and as such he organizes 18 to 20 tournaments annually, with six of them being PDGA sanctioned events. John is also an integral part of the Under Age Drivers League in Troy that runs weekly leagues for kids in the fall. This goal of this league is to introduce disc golf to youth and to improve their games. John has organized the first bag tag challenge in the Metro Detroit area. All the profits from this bag tag challenge go towards the purchase of baskets and repairs to disc golf facilities in the Metro Detroit area.
John has also been involved in raising money for several charities throughout the year using disc golf and has been successful giving back to the community. This year with the assistance of Discraft and the Detroit Tigers, John and Flying Saucer raised over $2,000 for the McCarty Cancer Foundation by raffling a Brandon Inge (Detroit Tiger) autographed super color disc. John also ran a very successful Ice Bowl tournament that raised $1200 and brought in 750 pounds of food.
For all of his dedication and hard work for the advancement of our sport, John Minicuci is our first Microtel Disc Golfer of Distinction award winner for 2008.